Mustangs surfers are nation's best; San Dieguito dunks Huntington Beach

By: HEATHER HAWTHORNE - Staff Writer | Wednesday, June 20, 2007 9:36 AM PDT ∞

SAN ONOFRE - The San Dieguito Academy surf team entered the finals of Tuesday's National Surf League's Red Bull High School Cup National Championship with an eye on the water. It knew going into the first period of the three-period matchup that wave selection was going to be key because of the lacking breaks in late afternoon.

Patience and strategy paid off as the Mustangs swept Huntington Beach in all three periods 74-61 and were crowned national champions at San Onofre Trails Beach.

When the Mustangs arrived earlier for the semifinals they knew just making it to the finals wasn't going to be an easy task.

"We had a pretty gnarly draw," said Mustang's third-year coach Jeremy Sherwin. "I knew both games were going to be really challenging.

"The guys were surfing so well today and everything just went together in our favor. We worked really hard to achieve these goals today so I'm stoked."

San Dieguito Academy had momentum since its win over Carlsbad at the regional championship. Going into the semifinals, the team knew to see Huntington Beach in the finals it had to post some big scores.

The Mustangs ended the semifinals' first period one point ahead of the Ventura Cougars.�San Dieguito Academy's senior Eric Snortum started the second period strong, showing some fancy choreography and posting an 8.0 out of 10. That marked his personal best of the season and won him the Most Radical Maneuver award along with MVP of the semifinals.

"I'm trying to do my best but first and foremost I just want the team to do well," he said. "It's just a team aspect and that's what makes it so fun. I love it when people are rooting me on when I'm standing up on a wave and I love rooting for people when they are standing up on a wave, too -- way better vibe out there."

Nick Suhadolnik subbed for twin brother, David, midway through the second period, showing some incredible maneuvering and posting a 7.5 to help the Mustangs finish the second period with 28 points out of a possible 40. Averaging a score of 7.0 per rider, San Dieguito's 28.0 set the record for the highest period total of the season.

Ventura knew it had some catching up to do but couldn't get the momentum going. At the top of the third and final period, the Mustangs had a 7 1/2-point lead. The gap widened in the third period when the Cougars weren't in position to grab an incredible opening set of waves.

San Dieguito Academy swept the semifinals 74-61.�

Sherwin was confident that the format helped out his already talented team.

"The game format versus the normal contest is the way the team comes together and (builds) the camaraderie," said Sherwin. "It's just crazy how much cohesiveness you have in this format versus NSSA or some other organization where you are all out there as a team but you really are surfing individually. It's very hard to have that same 'ya go' because you are like 'ooh, I want that wave' kinda of thing."